Photo Report: Verwimp In Command in Big Tour at 2018 CDI Lier

Belgian Olympian Jorinde Verwimp was in command of the big tour classes at the 2018 CDI Lier in Belgium on 1 - 4 March 2018. Aboard her 18-year old equine partner Tiamo she won the Grand Prix and Kur to Music.

The CDI Lier was founded in 2015 sponsored by the Ukrainian Vian Group, but in 2017 Jorinde's father, Grand Prix trainer Wim Verwimp, took over the organization and the competition moved to a 4* level in 2018. The competition dealt with extremely cold weather and on Friday a hail storm turned the outside terrain into an ice skating ring. Fortunately the weather turned on the weekend and temperatures became much milder.

In a big field of 35 competitors, Verwimp steered her tall Dutch warmblood gelding Tiamo (by Lester x Hemmingway) to an easy win on 73.217%, leaving the competition well behind her.

Spanish Sergio Martin Palos presented the 12-year old Lusitano mare Batuta (by Quixote x Icaro), who is in her fifth year at Grand Prix level and of which Martin Palos took on the ride less than a year ago. The bay mare has gained in weight and got a bit tubby but she looked relaxed and at ease with the Grand Prix work. They scored 71.804% for a second place in the Grand Prix and went on to win the Grand Prix Special with 69.617%.

On Sunday Verwimp topped the board in the Grand Prix Prix Kur to Music ahead of 14 other combinations. With a score of 77.450% she freewheeled to her second trophy of the week. Verwimp has begun her last year competing Tiamo which took her from juniors to Olympics. The 18-year old will be retired from sport after the hoped for World Equestrian Games at the CDI Mechelen in December 2018.

Sergio Martin Palos on Batuta"Tiamo felt fit and happy. He kept on going in the tests and gave me a good feeling," Verwimp concluded at the end of the weekend. "Tiamo piaffes well, compared to other shows. The tempi changes were easier than normal so that made me happy. There were still a few small issues in the Grand Prix and Kur, but those were only small ones."

German Britta Rasche-Merkt and her 15-year old Lusitano stallion Xerez (by Nordeste x Quimera) achieved their CDI career highlight score in Lier by scoring 74.875% and finishing second. This was only the third time they ever scored over 70% at an international show.

Back after a one-year show break, Ukraine's Inna Logutenkova on Don Gregorius

Ireland's Kate Dwyer on Snowdon Faberge

Russia's Tatyana Kosterina on Diavolessa

Slovakian Michael Bugan on For President

Stephanie de Frel on Beach Boy

South Africa's Laurienne Ditmann on Don Weltino K

Frenchman Francois Jacq and Gorklintgaards Romaro rode with cyclonic force through the Grand Prix. PIty that they were stuck in fifth gear as Romaro is talented for the collected work

Emma Hindle on Romy del Sol, probably one of the most gifted movers at the Lier show, but the mare was too stressed and unsettled to truly shine through relaxation

Katharina Hau on the beautiful Fifth Avenue

Mary Hanna's Olympic ride Boogie Woogie was out of his comfort zone. Just three weeks off the plane from Australia for the European spring show circuit and 2018 World Cup Finals, the bay seemed to have lost muscle. With another month to go until Paris, he'll hopefully soon be back on form.

A CDI Show debut for Svenja Meyer-Kamper on her 13-year old Hanoverian mare Rania M